Display device for containers



Oct. 13, 1942. MYERS DISPLAY DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed March 28, 1941 INVENTOR MYERS BY I I AFTOfi/V} Y Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT FF I CE 2,298,897 DISPLAY DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Harold L. Myers, Morristo'wn, N. J. ADDlicationMa'rcli 28, 1941, Serial no. 385,605

2 Claims.

lhe invention relates to containers for holding. displaying and dispensing articles of merchandise and has for its object to provide a novel device for supporting the container in an attractive display position in which the articles of merchandise in said container are readily accessiblevfor dispensing at will. The invention contemplates further a novel display device constructedas a self-contained unit capable of being readily attached to the containers and arranged to be set up and folded to operative and inoperative positions respectively in a simple and efficient manner. Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out. in. the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an example of. the invention without defining its limits Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the novel device in operative position on a container and supporting the latter in display position; Fig. 2 is a bottom view .of the" device and container with the device in its operative position; Fig. 3. is a similar view showing the device in its inoperative, folded position, and Fig. 4 is a face view of the blank from which the device is constructed.

In its preferred form the novel display device comprises a self-contained unit adapted. to be suitably combined with the receptacle for which it is designed, and in such case may be constructed from a blank of suitable material such as cardboard. or the like. Inthe form shown in Fig. 4 this blank consists of a main section 5 of rectangular form andpredeterminedidimensions dependent upon the associated receptacle to which it is to be attached. An auxiliary panel 6 is foldably connected with the main section 5 at an edge thereof andin any suitable manner as by means of a score line 1-. An associate panel 8, which in the illustrated example is a terminal panel, is foldably connected with the auxiliary panel 6 at an edge thereof in any conventional way as by means ofv a score line 9. A guide tongue is foldably connected with the associate panel 8 at theiree edge. thereof for instance by'means of score lines- II which project inwardly toward each other as" shown:

The guide tongue 10 has its opposite ends I 2" tapered and preferably rounded as indicated for relation to each other. cludes a locking-flap which initially may comprise part of the guide tongue [0; and in such connecting transverse line It so as to remain in connection with and project from the associate panel .8. The end lines of the locking flap M are located respectively at the inner terminals of the score lines II as shown in Fig. 4. In practice the locking flap co-operates with a locking opening I! formed in the main section 5 and located at a predetermined point between the slots l3 to maintain the display device in the operative display position shown in Fig. l, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

To set up the display device from the blank shown in Fig. 4 the locking flap I0 is folded on the score lines l'l preferably in a return direction into overlapping relation with the associate panel 8 and the latter with the auxiliary panel 6 is folded on the score line I over the main section 5;.in any appropriate manner the tapering ends [2 of the guide tongue II] are inserted into the slots I3 so that at this stage the device presents the flat folded appearance i1- lustrated in Fig. 3 in. which the locking flap 14 projects outwardly from the associated panel 8 over the main section 5 as shown. When it is desired to adjust the display device to its'operative position, or in other words, to foldably adjust the panels' 6 and 8 to operative easel form, a manualpushing force is exerted on the edge a' of the device in Fig. 3 to slidably shift the guide tongue I10 or specifically'the ends I'2 thereof lengthwise of the slots l'3 toward" the'right in said Fig. 3. Thiswill pivotally adjust the auxiliary panel 6 on the score'line lor its equivalent, and at the same time will pivotally adjust the associate-panel 8 on the score lines 9 and H to bring said panels 6 and 8 into inclined relation to each other and to the. main section 5; or in: other words, to foldablyadjust these panels. 6. and.8. tooperative easel form as illustrated; in Fig. 1.. During these movements the- ,opening. IT to bring the free transverse edge of said locking flap [4 into engagement with the contiguous edge of said' locking opening IT to thereby fixsaid panels 6 andt'in their operative positionior easel form, as shownin Fig. 1; When case is cut therefrom along end lines l5. and'a' it is i d '60- ll p c h di pl vdeviceor to adjust it to its inoperative position, the locking flap M is removed from the locking opening 11 in any convenient manner and a force is exerted on the panels 6 and 8 in a direction toward the main section 5 for instance at the apex of the easel coinciding with the score line 9 or its equivalent. This will cause the guide tongue ID to slide along the surface of the main section 5 and the tapered ends [2 of said locking flap Hi to correspondingly move lengthwise of the slots 13 in a direction toward the left in Fig. 2; the locking flap [4 will concurrently travel in the same direction on the face of the main section 5. At the completion of this collapsing operation the panels 6 and 8 of the display device will lie flat in surface engagement with the section 5 and the ends l2 of the guide tongue will be located at or near the left hand ends of the slots I3, or in other words the display device will again occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the main section of the display device is connected with the bottom iii of the container l9 in surface engagement therewith. The connection of the main section 5 with the bottom l8 of the container l9 may be effected in any conventional manner as for instance by means of metallic staples 2D and 2! as shown. In order to facilitate the placing of the staples 2| in position to connect the main section 5 with the bottom I8 of the container I9, the panel 6 may be provided with apertures or slots 22 through which the main section 5 is made accessible to the staples and stapling machine when the display device is in the folded inoperative position shown in Fig. 3.

In some instances the main section 5 may constitute the bottom of the associated container in which case suitable provision is made for foldably combining the panels 6 and 8 with said main section to meet the existing conditions. In any event in all forms of the device suitable means projects upwardly from the main section 5 to constitute a container for articles of merchandise. When the display device comprises a self-contained unit and the main section 5 has been suitably attached to the bottom N3 of the associated container l9 as described, the locking opening IT in co-operation with the bottom l8 of said container 19 forms a locking recess for the accommodation of the locking flap M to fix the panels 6 and 8 in their operative position or in the easel form shown in Fig. 1 in which the associated container I9 is supported in an inclined display position as shown. In this display position the articles of merchandise in the container l9 are not only attractively displayed but are also made easily accessible for sale to purchasers or other dispensation as may be desired.

The display device in all of its forms is of maximum simplicity in construction and is capable of being adjusted to and from its operative position and vice versa with a minimum of energy and without requiring any particular skill on the part of the operator. The interengagement of the locking flap M with the locking opening I! is substantially automatic and in any case requires only a slight effort to force these elements into .co-operate engagement with each other. The release of the flap M from the locking opening H and the collapse of the display device to its inoperative fiat condition is .attain the desired results.

equally simple and also requires no particular effort or skill on the part of the operator.

The display device in all of its forms comprises a plurality of members foldably and slidably connected with each other in a manner to enable said device to be adjusted as hereinbefore described.

In its illustrated form the plurality of members is exemplified by the main section 5 and the panels 6 and 8, which are located in conterminous relation to each other and to said main section 5 and are foldably connected to Predetermined members, that is for instance, the panels 6 and 8, are foldable relative to each other and to another of said members, for instance, the main section 5 .to operative easel form. The predetermined members for instance the panels 6 and 8 are slidably connected with another of said members, as for instance the main section 5 by means of the guide tongue [0 and the guide slots l3 as previously set forth herein. In addition the device preferably always includes means for fixing the predetermined members such as the panels 6 and 8 in said'easel form, said means being exemplified in the illustrated example by the locking flap l4 and the locking opening IT.

The novel display device when constructed in its preferred form as a self-contained unit may be readily connected and combined with existing types of containers for articles of merchandise. The specific construction and form of these containers may be of any predetermined or special type dependent upon the purpose for which it is to be used. In every instance the novel display; device provides an eflicient means whereby said, containers with the articles of merchandise. therein may be efiiciently and adequately sup-. ported in attractive display positions so as to, be easily accessible for dispensation at will. At, the same time the novel display device in its. inoperative position lies flat and does not inter-- fere with the storage or shipment of the con-- tainers with which it is combined.

Various changes in the specific forms shown: and. described may be made within the scope of; the claims without departing from the spirit of; the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a merchandise con-- tainer including a bottom, and a display device, comprising a main section secured to the bottom. of said container in surface engagement therer with and provided with a locking opening co-op-- crating with said bottom to form a locking re-. cess, a plurality of panels foldably connected with each other and with said main section and foldable relatively to each other and to said main section into easel form for supporting said container in display position and to an inoperative, position in surface engagement with. said main. section, means for slidably connecting one of said, panels with said main section, and a locking flap, on said one of said panels arranged to pass, into; said locking recess into contact with the bottom of said container and to engage a wall of said. locking opening to fix said panels in easel form.

2. The combination of a merchandise container having a bottom, and a display device comprising a main section secured to the bottom of said container in external surface engagement therewith, said main section being provided with spaced, parallel guide slots and a locking opening located between said slots and co-operating with said bottom to form a locking recess, an

auxiliary panel foldably connected with said main section at an edge thereof, an associate panel foldably connected with said auxiliary panel at an edge thereof, a guide tongue foldably connected with said associate panel in overlapping relation thereto and having its opposite ends slidably mounted in said slots for folding said panels relatively to each other and to said main section to adjust said device from its inoperative to its operative position and vice versa, 10 

